SELFBUILDER SURVEY: BUILDING A LOW CARBON HOME
Problems & obstacles
Is it becoming easier to undertake and complete a low carbon build? Our respondents seemed to think so. Last year, 6% said it was ‘very difficult’ to meet the challenge, with 4% complaining it was ‘etremely difficult. This year, 9% said it was ‘very difficult’ 11% last year, and those finding it ‘etremely difficult’ dropped slightly from 4% to 3%, against suggesting that knowledge levels and
expert advice to hand are on the up. This was backed up by only 34% of respondents saying that achieving a low carbon build is ‘moderately difficult’ now, compared to 40% in 2022. A 16% asserted that it was ‘not at all difficult’, a strong uptick from last year given the confidence of the statement; in 2022 it was the response of 11% of those surveyed.
CONCLUSION
Despite all the challenges faced, and shifting political priorities regarding how the UK might reach net zero by 2050, our Selfbuilder urvey proves that a significant number of people would still like to build their own low carbon home, or are already engaged in the process.
While keeping down the cost of energy and moving towards
self-sufficiency remains an aim for almost two thirds 61% of our respondents, interestingly, it’s less of a priority than last year, when 69% said that ‘lower bills’ was the top ‘key reason’ behind opting for a low carbon project. Most of this year’s respondents (35%) expected an annual energy
bill of between £500 and £999. Last year, 43% of respondents epected to pay the same kind of figure. ut back then, 20% expected to annually pay £1,000 to £1,499 for their energy, compared with just 16% this year. However, the ongoing cost of living crisis, fuelled by high interest rates, is definitely impacting low carbon self build budgets. ow carbon builds do tend to cost more than a standard home, due to factors like the higher levels of insulation, greater levels of design work, air-tightness measures, and higher spec products such as glazing and membranes that may be used. Almost two thirds (60%) of our respondents said that the cost of building their low carbon home was higher than expected. However, this was actually a lower proportion than last year (68%), so perhaps our self-builders are taking a more realistic approach to budgeting to avoid shocks down the line. Only 6% found their build costs lower than anticipated, compared to 9% last year. We’re also seeing low carbon self-builders tackling emerging issues in construction, such as overheating. In the face of rising UK temperatures, yet again, self-builders are setting an example to others; 60% said they would be incorporating natural methods of ventilation, with 44% bringing in mechanical ventilation. Mention was also made of the importance of shading and solar control glass, to help keep indoor temperatures ambient. Going forward, the onus will be on manufacturers and suppliers to keep pace with demand for the latest products self-builders working on low carbon homes desire. Solar control glass, for example, was number four on the list of products suffering from
Has the build cost of your low carbon home been lower or higher than expected? g Higher g Lower g Unsure
availability problems, behind heat pumps, sustainable concrete and solar PV, with 13% of our respondents citing delays. Increasing costs for products and materials is also a major concern. More than half (54%) said the cost of timber had affected them, with prices for insulation (38%), heat pumps (29%) and solar PV (25%), also causing consternation. To help meet rising costs, a small but ambitious cohort (6%) among our respondents said that they intended their project to become ‘carbon positive,’ meaning they were pursuing microgeneration so they could gain an income from their onsite renewables, assisted by their efficient fabric design. This is double the number of self-builders of low carbon homes surveyed last year 3% who held the same hopes, confirming what we know that those who build for themselves tend to push the agenda in terms of ambition and innovation. Our second Selfbuilder Survey gives cause for some positivity
around how self-builders are continuing to strive for greater sustainability. The climate – in all senses – may be challenging, but it is spurring our self-builders onwards, not holding them back.
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www.sbhonline.co.uk
nov/dec 2023
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